A big congratulations to the University of Texas Longhorns for their huge win over the Tar heels of North Carolina!! the way the Horns played they can beat anyone in the country are definetely int he talk for a national title.  If they can make a higher percentage of free throws that is!

I owe all of my readers and listeners an apology.

I broke the “Cardinal Rule” of my profession… I let the fan in me interfere with my ability to see and analyze the facts that were right there in front of me.

I grew up a Nittany Lion fan, but I am usually able to take off the PSU hat to give an honest assessment of talent. I went back and watched the Akron, Syracuse, and Temple games again; hence why I am writing this apology.

As the stars continued to align for the Nittany Lions, USC’s loss, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State losing, it became even harder to see what was right in front of me.

Those first three games, against lesser opponents, especially when you are talking about a team that stands a chance to play for a National Title, Penn State rushed for a grand total of 400 yards or 133.3 yards per game. The vaunted Syracuse defense held them to 78 yards on the ground. Minnesota rushed for 112 yards against the Orange, another red flag that I missed.

The consensus front runners of National Championship contenders would be Texas, Alabama, and of course Florida. Through three games the Longhorns rushed for an average of 175 yards per game, the Crimson Tide averaged 267.6 yards per game, and the Gators 289.3 yards per game.

All 5 of the starting offensive line man are playing news positions, and 3 of them are first year starters. As I watched these games again one play jumped out at me…The fumble on the goal line against Syracuse.

It wasn’t a bad exchange; it was simply the Penn State’s offensive line getting dominated. The dangerous concoction of a patsy non-conference schedule and watching Top 5 team after Top 5 team getting knocked off was what clouded my view.

Not that the season is a total loss, and there is no shame in playing in a BCS game, but a team that looked like they were destined for a National Title run now must pick up the pieces.

The #1 UNC Tar Heels rolled over the #2 Michigan St. Spartans. This wasn’t even close. The Tar heels scored 55 first half points, setting the national title. Also had the biggest half time lead ever in the National title by 21 points. Ty Lawson had the most steals in the National title game, even in the Final Four. He had 8 steals. UNC was the favorite at the beggining to the end. They had the #1 spot the longest out of any team. They had Forced 20+ turnovers. Tyler Hansbrow Moved up to the #3 scoring man in the NCAA Tournament. This games final score was 89-72. Coach Roy Williams won his second national title. Hansbrow said he came back to win a title. He did that in a very nice fashion. Tis was pretty much utter dominance until the 3rd quarter. But in the end, the Tar Heels pretty much saved my bracket to over 50%. Barrak Obama is happy with the Heels for not loosing.

UNC will win the National title because……
1. UNC is a 7 point favorite
2. They are way to fast for Michigan St. in transition
3. Ty Lawson
4. Great depth for UNC
5. Tyler Hansbrow
Lets see if I win, “Don’t disapoint me North Carolina,”- Barrak Obama

Written by Lake Lewis

Watching the University of Maryland star players Christie Tolliver and Marissa Coleman come to the bench in tears in the closing seconds of a tough loss to the University of Louisville made me think of a statement I made 3 years ago. I was doing a show on ESPN Radio in Orlando, FL when this Maryland senior class had just one the National Title. I made the statement that a dynasty was being formed and that this Lady Terrapin team was going to become the “new” Connecticut. So in the final moments of tonight’s loss did I realize two amazing facts?

One, Maryland has had an incredible run in the last four years. This senior class has put together a resume that consist of a National Title (2006), ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships (09), four-straight 20-win seasons, including two 30-win campaigns, and four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, two consisting of losing in the final eight.

Two, Maryland is no Connecticut. For that matter no other program in the country is. And yes that includes Pat Summit and Tennessee.  No other program has sustained the type of winning and dominance of the Lady Huskies over a longer period. As I write this article they are in the midst of accomplishing something they did just a few years ago, an undefeated season. How many programs can lay claim to such a feat? Since ’95 The lady Huskies have won five National Titles (1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004), two undefeated seasons (1995 and 2002), and this years team could make that a sixth National Title as well as a third undefeated team. This is what a true dynasty is.

Maryland will have its doubters of coach Brenda Frese who has had a tough time getting Maryland back to a place I thought was going to be common place after the 2006 championship. But before those who are quick to jump ship do so, remember where Lady Terrapin hoops was before she arrived in 2003. They were a once dominant program in the 80’s but had fallen on bad times as ACC Powers North Carolina, Duke, NC State, and Virginia were the conferences best teams. All Frese has done is take Maryland to a place that no booster or fan of this program would have betted on in 7 short years.

Maryland should be proud of the run they just witnessed over the last four years and continue to develop their program if they truly want to be one of women college basketballs consistent elite programs. Frese has been at Maryland for 7 years and has the ultimate trophy to her credit. Geno Auriemma has been roaming the sidelines at Connecticut for 24 years and his counter part Pat Summit has lead the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee to 8 National Titles (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008 ) in her storied 35 year coaching career. Before the Brenda Frese detractors make noise do your homework, look at their successes and ask are things really that bad at Maryland? Or, did you get caught up and drink the red kool-aid back in 2006? I know I did.

I mean how much more convincing do all the ‘SEC haters‘ need, it is a national championship! Anyways if you don’t believe I’ve complied a number of reasons why the SEC still sits on top.

© New York Times

1.) National Championships – Florida defeat of Oklahoma gave them their second in 3 years and in between that LSU defeated Ohio State for a third SEC claimed national title in three years. 

2.) Bowl Game Performance - This year only two SEC teams failed to perform in there bowl games (and Alabama was a major one) but if you look at all the other games the SEC competed in they one. Also, we see in the games the SEC never gives up an easy win (meaning they always lose to teams that are undoubtedly good). 

3.) Dynamic Players – Since people are now recognizing the SEC as the best conference in college football it has made it easier for SEC recruiters to influence the best players around the country to come play for them (as if they weren’t doing it already). Just look at some of the players in the SEC now: Matthew Stafford (UGA), Tim Tebow (FLA), Percy Harvin (FLA), Knowshawn Moreno (UGA), Julio Jones (Ala), Andre Smith (Ala), Michael Oher (Ole Miss),  Tyson Jackson (LSU), and may others (I could name forever).

4.) Quality of Teams and Competition – The SEC is just a hard conference to go through undefeated and matter of fact no SEC team has gone undefeated since Steve Spurrier’s 1996 Gators. The quality of the teams is just to great to win day in and day out (unless your team is just amazing). We saw this year some Kentucky beat ECU and Ole Miss topple over Texas Tech. In both games the non-SEC team was favored but still lost. Oh, and let’s just not mention Georgia holding Michigan State to 31 rushing yards only giving up 12 points in Georgia’s win 24-12.

The only conference that has an argument is the PAC-10, because they didn’t lose a single bowl game this year but really, come on, who did they play (the answer is scrubs and Big Ten and everyone knows they choke when it comes to big games XD)?

That is one cool lookin' *ss Caiman in a Cashmere

The Florida Gators will roll to another national title in a high-scoring affair over the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS championship game. Take them to the bank as a 3.5 point favorite, and if you’re feeling lucky, parlay it with the over at 70 total points.

This Chris Brown will be dancing solo

The game showcases two dynamic offenses with the Sooners averaging 54.0 (#1) and the Gators 45.2 (#3), but the difference will be Florida’s 4th ranked defense (allowing 12.8 ppg), which is very fast and loaded with ballhawks and heavy hitters. Both teams will go back and forth, with the Sooners 2008 Heisman QB Sam Bradford leading an aerial assault, but will be sorely missing one of its two 1,000-yard backs in DeMarco Murray, leaving Chris Brown to shoulder the load. The Gators are led by 2007 Heisman QB Tim Tebow, a very balanced attack, and welcome back a healthy game-changer in Percy Harvin. In this close title game, look for Florida’s secondary to force a big turnover or two in the 2nd half, and to pound, pound, pound the ball at the Sooners line. The Gators will take a page out of Texas’ playbook (when Texas held Oklahoma to 48 rush yards in their win) and focus on stopping the run. Couple that with Tebow’s experience and calm in big games, and you can mark up another notch for coach Urban Meyer.

Note that in their last 12 games, the over has been 11-1 for Oklahoma and 8-4 for Florida. Also note that the Big 12 has been terrible this Bowl season, going 2-4 against the spread, bringing into question all that “tough schedule” talk, while the SEC has gone 5-2.

So far, 4-1 in 2009: USC rolling and Wild Card wins with ATL/ARI over, BAL -3, PHI -2, and the lone loss with Indy. Good luck everyone!

Straight Cash … Homey.

This is becoming a yearly thing: USC is picked to go to the National Championship in the preseason, they get upset once, they go to the Rose Bowl, and they absolutely dominate led by an outstanding performance by their standout player from the regular season.

Yet again, this unexpected event occurred. (Catch the hint of sarcasm there?)

Let’s flash back to last season: preseason ranking was #1. In Week 5, Stanford upset them. Just routine, right? However, then, in Week 9, they were upset again, this time by Oregon and Dennis Dixon. Still, 2 conference losses couldn’t keep them down, as they stilled played in the Rose Bowl game against Illinois. Of course, they killed the Juice Williams-led team: 49-17 was the final score, in favor of the Trojans.

Now, coming back to this season: started the season ranked #3. Started strong, beating first Virginia, an average team, 52-7, then #5 Ohio State 35-3. Looking good going into a game against Oregon State, right? I mean, #1 going against practically nobody compared to their former opponents. Well, they got surprised, losing 27-21, all but destroying their hopes at a national title.  As is routine, they went on to thrash the remainder of their schedule, leaving them with a Rose Bowl bid.

Which brings me to yesterday: against Penn State, it wasn’t even a contest. It looked like it was going to be a good game after the first quarter, as it was knotted up at 7 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was a completely different story, as USC outscored Penn State 24-0, giving them a 31-7 lead going into halftime.

The rest of the game was uninteresting: no scores in the third quarter, but the Nittany Lions made a mini-comeback in the third, outscoring USC 17-7 in the fourth, but USC still won by two touchdowns, 38-24, sort of reminiscent of the 32-18 USC upset win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl two years ago.

Complete dominance, especially by USC QB Mark Sanchez, who had a career day: 413 passing yards, second all-time in the Rose Bowl, 4 pass TDs,  0 INTs, 7 Rush for 16 yards and a TD.

Just the Same Old Song and Dance for the USC Football Trojans. (Credit to Aerosmith for the lyrics.)

That’s all I have for you. 

Thanks for reading!

If you would have asked me who was going to win the BCS Title Game a week ago I would have probably said the Sooners, not so much anymore. ESPN reported today that DeMarco Murray, the Sooners’ starting running back, would not be able to play in the championship game against the Florida Gators on January 8th. This may not seem like a big deal at first because the Sooners have another great back named Chris Brown that has 100 more yards than Murray along with 6 more TDs. However, losing DeMarco Murray will have an effect on the way the #1 offense goes about running its plays. The Oklahoma offense was dominant for a reason, because it all clicked and everyone worked as a unit. Now, you take away a key component and things are sure to change. There’s no doubt in my mind that Okie offensive coordinators will have to change their gameplans a little bit in order to adapt to the absence of Murray.

Secondly, I saw an interesting statistic on ESPN.com that said Heisman winners are just 1-5 in BCS Championship games – I didn’t even realize! So with a crucial part of the offense sitting on the sidelines combined with the fact that Heisman winners (Bradford) are just 1-5 in the big game lead me to change my pick to the Florida Gators as the next National Champion.

But wait! To me, Alabama missed only a couple opportunities to beat Florida in the SEC title game leading me to believe that they are certainly beatable when facing a team like the Sooners. Also, Dan Mullen, the Florida offensive coordinator, has already accepted the head coaching job at Mississippi State. Can a offensive guru like Mullen focus 100% on the task at hand and not his next job? I’m not implying that Mullen would do anything to compromise the game for Florida, but there is no way he can be focused.

Florida is currently the favorite with a spread of 3 points. 57% of bettors are taking the Florida Gators (-3) and 53% are taking the Florida Gators on the moneyline, all of which makes the #1 team in the nation an UNDERDOG! Not to mention the game is being played in South Florida, which I consider a “home” stadium for the Gators. What does that make the #1 team in the nation? ROAD-DOGS! I love taking road-dogs and Oklahoma may throw their own swamp on the Gators come January.

This could be a possible pick…

NCAA Regular Season Summation

Congratulations go to Oklahoma and Florida, and my condolences go to Texas, Southern Cal, and Penn State, and Alabama.  Some biased poll voters, a couple of computer geeks, and a couple of sports elitists have determined that the Sooners and Gators are a couple hundredths of a percentage point better than the rest of the pack and deserve to play for the national title.

Florida lost their one game at home.  Oklahoma lost their one game on a neutral field to one of the other teams up for consideration.  Alabama’s loss on a neutral field to Florida is the exact same situation.  Texas lost on the road to an undefeated Texas Tech team on the final play of the game.  Southern Cal lost on the road at Oregon State with one late play figuring greatly in the outcome.  Penn State lost on the road at Iowa on the final play of the game.  So, the computers can tell us that Florida and Oklahoma are the two most deserving? 

Here are the final regular season PiRate Top 25 and the PiRate Ratings by conference:

Here is the bowl schedule

NCAA Week 15: The Postseason Falls to BieCeS

With one weekend remaining in the regular season, the dreadful BCS has suffered from yet another snafu.  Oklahoma is in the Big 12 Championship Game because a computer or two has deemed the Sooners to be a tiny bit better than the Longhorns even though Texas beat them by 10 points on a neutral field.  The Big 12 should have never used BCS ranking to break three-way ties, but then again the BCS shouldn’t be there in the first place for the Big 12 brass to be dumb enough to use it as its tiebreaker.

I don’t advocate that Texas should be in that title game instead of Oklahoma or even Texas Tech.  I don’t believe the BCS system to be credible; the vote of Oklahoma over Texas is ridiculous, and if Texas had been voted in by a miniscule amount, it would have been just as ridiculous.

If Oklahoma wins this week over an inferior Missouri squad, the Sooners will play for the national title against the winner of the Alabama-Florida game.  Southern Cal, Texas Tech, and Penn State, as well as Utah, Boise State, and Ball State among other top contenders will get no chance to compete for all the marbles.

The Top 25 had very little movement after this past weekend.  The bowl situations started to come into focus, as information started to leak out on which bowls want which teams if they are available.  So, when you read the bowl section below, realize that these are not just predictions now; some of the teams are slotted based on leaked information from bowl scouts.

Personally, I believe Florida and Southern Cal are the two best teams in the nation.  The Gators’ offense is as good as any college team in 13 years, while the Trojans’ defense is the best college defense in 16 years.

PiRate Ratings By Conference

Bowl Outlook By Conference

Teams in all CAPS have already accepted invitations to that bowl.

ACC

After having a new team at the top of each division for multiple weeks, Boston College and Virginia Tech both won last week when they had to win.  Now, the winner of their game will advance to the Orange Bowl, while the loser probably drops to the Champs Sports Bowl.

With Georgia Tech’s win over Georgia, their hometown bowl will be glad to take the Yellow Jackets.  That bowl prefers a ranked team coming off a win, and Tech fits that bill.

Florida State will get the Gator Bowl invitation regardless of how the ACC title game turns out.  The Gator Bowl does not want to have the loser of the title game returning to Jacksonville three weeks later.

1. Orange Bowl-Boston College 10-3 vs. Cincinnati

2. Chick-fil-a-Georgia Tech 9-3 vs. L S U

3. Gator-Florida State 8-4 vs. Nebraska

4. Champs Sports-Virginia Tech 8-5 vs. Wisconsin

5. Music City-North Carolina 8-4 vs. Vanderbilt

6. Meineke Car Care-Miami 7-5 vs. West Virginia

7. Eagle Bank-Wake Forest 7-5 vs. NAVY

8. Emerald-Clemson 7-5 vs. California

9. Humanitarian-Maryland 7-5 vs. Nevada

10. Hawaii (at-large)-N.C. State 6-6 vs. Southern Miss.

Big East

Cincinnati has clinched a BCS Bowl spot.  The Bearcats are more than likely headed to the Orange Bowl.

Notre Dame’s loss to USC means the Irish may not seize one of this league’s bids.  If Rutgers beats Louisville, then there will be six, seven-win bowl eligible teams for six bowls; Notre Dame would not be eligible for a Big East Bowl, so they would become the top 6-6 at-large possibility.  Should Louisville win this week, then Notre Dame will be headed to El Paso.

1. Orange-Cincinnati 11-2 vs. Boston College

2. Sun-Rutgers 7-5 vs. Oregon State

3. St. Petersburg-South Florida 7-5 vs. East Carolina

4. Meineke Car Care-West Virginia 8-4 vs. Miami (Fla)

5. International-Connecticut 8-4 vs. Buffalo

6. Papa John’s-Pittsburgh 8-4 vs. Middle Tennessee State

Big Ten

Ohio State is almost assured to get the final BCS Bowl bid over Boise State, so the Big Ten will not have enough bowl-eligible teams for their seven allotted bids.  That may open the Motor City Bowl for a possible match of undefeated teams.

Although not technically official, Penn State has been mathematically eliminated from moving into the National Championship Game.  Thus, I have them “officially” in the Rose Bowl.

1. Rose-PENN STATE 11-1 vs. Southern Cal

2. Fiesta-Ohio State 10-2 vs. Texas

3. Capital One-Michigan State 9-3 vs. Georgia

3. Outback-Iowa 8-4 vs. South Carolina

4. Champs Sports-Wisconsin 7-5 vs. Virginia Tech

5. Alamo-Northwestern 9-3 vs. Missouri

6. Insight-Minnesota 7-5 vs. Kansas

7. Motor City-No qualifying team

Big 12

Missouri is being overlooked by everybody but Oklahoma this week, so I expect the Sooners to drill the Tigers.

With two teams headed to BCS Bowls, and with Colorado failing to upset Nebraska, this league will fall two teams short.

1. BCS National Championship-Oklahoma 12-1 vs. Florida

2. Fiesta-Texas 11-1 vs. Ohio State

3. Cotton-Texas Tech 11-1 vs. Ole Miss

4. Gator-Nebraska 8-4 vs. Florida State

5. Holiday-Oklahoma State 9-3 vs. Oregon

6. Alamo-Missouri 9-4 vs. Northwestern

7. Insight-Kansas 6-6 vs. Minnesota

8. Independence-No Qualifying Team

9. Texas-No Qualifying team

C-USA

Tulsa and East Carolina are the two divisional champions, and I believe the Golden Hurricane will win the title game this week.  Rice is the best team in this league as the season ends, but the Owls will not be at the top of the list for those remaining bowl-eligible teams.  Expect to see Rice fall to the Texas Bowl.

Unless another bowl chooses them first, Houston may wind up in Ft. Worth playing Air Force in a rematch of a game played in the regular season.  I think Rice would be a better opponent, but the Cougars are the better drawing team. 

1. Liberty-Tulsa 11-2 vs. Kentucky

2. St. Petersburg-East Carolina 8-5 vs. South Florida

3. G M A C-Southern Miss. 6-6 vs. Central Michigan

4. Armed Forces-Houston 7-5 vs. Air Force

5. Texas-Rice 9-3 vs. Notre Dame

6. New Orleans-Memphis 6-6 vs. Troy

Independent

Navy is headed to the Eagle Bank Bowl regardless of their outcome with Army this week.  We know for sure that Maryland will not be their opponent in a possible in-state rivalry game.  The Terps have final exams that week, and they will not accept a bowl bid during exam week.

Notre Dame will still be invited to a bowl at 6-6.  They will be the first 6-6 team invited as an at-large team.  I believe they will be headed to Houston.

1. Texas (at-large)-Notre Dame 6-6 vs. Rice

2. Eagle Bank-NAVY 7-5 vs. Miami (Fla.)

M A C

Ball State should handle Buffalo this week.  If they do, I expect the Motor City Bowl to make a deal with the WAC to release Boise State to come to Detroit in a battle of the unbeatens.  It will thus become the top non-BCS bowl.

The MAC will benefit from the failure of other conferences not being able to fulfill their bowl quotas.  Three more teams (Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and Buffalo) have seven wins, so there will be one extra bowl invitation for the MAC.  I have Western Michigan playing in an at-large bowl, but there is no news leaks about where they might be headed.  I have them headed west based on the fact that Boise State won’t be selected by the Poinsettia Bowl as they have that right.

1. Motor City-Ball State 13-0 vs. Boise State

2. International-Buffalo 8-5 vs. Connecticut

3. G M A C-Central Michigan 9-3 vs. Southern Miss.

4. Poinsettia (at-large)-Western Michigan 9-3 vs. T C U

Mountain West

Utah is officially a BCS bowl invitee.  It appears that they are headed to the Big Easy to play in the Sugar Bowl.

BYU has been to the Las Vegas Bowl the last three years, and I believe the folks in sin city will invite the Cougars a fourth consecutive time.  TCU is still a possibility, but in this time of economic turmoil, I’m guessing it will be a number’s game that comes up craps for the Frogs.

1. Sugar-Utah 12-0 vs. Alabama

2. Las Vegas-B Y U 10-2 vs. Arizona

3. Poinsettia-T C U 10-2 vs. Western Michigan

4. New Mexico-Colorado State 6-6 vs. Fresno State

5. Armed Forces-Air Force 8-4 vs. Houston

Pac-10

Oregon made the Rose Bowl officials happy when they defeated Oregon State.  Now Southern Cal needs to defeat UCLA to return to Pasadena for another game.

Arizona State can still become bowl-eligible with a win at Arizona, but I think the Wildcats have a huge revenge motive that will end the season for the Sun Devils.  Thus, I have the Pac-10 falling two spots shy of fulfilling its obligations.

1. Rose-Southern Cal 11-1 vs. Penn State

2. Holiday-Oregon 9-3 vs. Oklahoma State

3. Sun-Oregon State 8-4 vs. Rutgers

4. Las Vegas-Arizona 7-5 vs. B Y U

5. Emerald-California 8-4 vs. Wake Forest

6. Poinsettia-No qualifying team

7. Hawaii- No qualifying team

S E C

What happens if Florida beats Alabama in overtime or by one point in regulation?  Might there be a rematch in a month for the National Championship?  It’s not going to happen for two reasons.  First, a loss of any kind will put Alabama behind both Oklahoma and Texas.  Second, I believe Florida will win this week by double digits.  No matter which team loses, it will be headed to New Orleans.  A Florida-Utah game would be interesting because of Urban Meyer.

There is a rumor going around that the Capital One Bowl could take Ole Miss over Georgia.  I think that rumor has merits, but I don’t expect the Rebels to end up in Orlando.

1. National Championship-Florida 12-1 vs. Oklahoma

2. Sugar-Alabama 12-1 vs. Utah

3. Capital One-Georgia 10-2 vs. Ohio State

4. Outback-South Carolina 7-5 vs. Michigan State

5. Cotton-Ole Miss 8-4 vs. Texas Tech

6. Chick-fil-a-L S U 7-5 vs. Georgia Tech

7. Music City-Vanderbilt 6-6 vs. North Carolina

8. Liberty-Kentucky 6-6 vs. Tulsa

9. Independence-No qualifying team

10. Papa John’s-No qualifying team

Sunbelt

Troy should beat Arkansas State this weekend to wrap up the SBC title.  They will be the only seven-win team in the league, but it is likely that two six-win teams will receive at-large bids.  The winner of the UL-Lafayette-Middle Tennessee game will likely wind up in Birmingham, while either Arkansas State or Florida Atlantic will take the Independence Bowl bid.  I’m guessing ASU will be picked over FAU.  Of course, if ASU beats Troy, they will head to New Orleans.  Troy would then head to Birmingham, and ULL or MTSU will end up in Shreveport.

1. New Orleans-Troy 8-4 vs. Memphis

2. Independence (at-large) Arkansas State 6-6 vs. La. Tech

3. Papa John’s (at-large) Middle Tennessee 6-6 vs. Pittsburgh

W A C

The Boise State-Ball State mini-dream game is still full of potential pitfalls.  The Humanitarian Bowl wants to host this game, but Ball State doesn’t want to play Boise State on the blue turf.  Boise State may think Detroit is too close to Muncie, Indiana.  The Independence Bowl has been mentioned as a possible site since it will have to find two at-large teams, but the Independence Bowl is supposed to take a Sunbelt team if they don’t have an SEC team.  Louisiana Tech is a great bet to be the other at-large team in Shreveport.  I believe the Motor City Bowl is the best option.  That will allow the Humanitarian Bowl to take Nevada and cause no further bowl interruptions.  If the big game ends up in Boise, then the ACC will have to be compensated.  They have more than enough eligible teams to meet their obligations. 

1. Motor City-Boise State 12-0 vs. Ball State

2. Humanitarian-Nevada 6-6 vs. Maryland

3. New Mexico-Fresno State 7-5 vs. Colorado State

4. Hawaii-Hawaii 7-6 vs. North Carolina State

5. Independence (at-large)-La. Tech 8-4 vs. Arkansas St.

Oh what a weekend.  I cried as I watched the Gators exit the field Saturday night.  The last game of the regular season, and possibly the last time I see the Gators on the field for another year.  Most likely the last time I see Percy Harvin and Brandon Spikes on the field, also could be the last I watch Tim Tebow play.  Of course there is always a possible National Title Game to attend, but I am focusing on next week’s SEC Championship Game against Alabama.

A few highlights about Saturday:

- From approximately 2pm to 9pm, I stood in freezing rain.  The weather was MISERABLE, but it accurately painted the picture of the Seminoles and Tallahassee for me.

-So with 51 seconds left in the first half, RIGHT after Aaron Hernandez’s touchdown, I decide to go to the bathroom.  Well, in the ABC broadcast, the final shot of fans right before halftime is the three people I attended the game with!  I came out JUST as the Gators were exiting the field, which was right there where I came out.  I saw them up close and was a bit starstruck, especially when I saw the commanding presence of Brandon Spikes.

-I was a bit scared that day.  The heavy rain, the fact that two of my friends lost tickets sometime before we arrived on the tailgating scene, made me nervous.  But all was well with a 30 point win.

-I loved how the player’s uniforms were stained red, and thus making it look like the Gators actually murdered FSU!  (Well they did, but only football-wise).  For instance, look at Tebow here:

I love it!  When we got back to the apartment with the friends we were staying with, they commented on how it looked as if Tebow was eating babies.  No guys, just Seminoles!  LOL, but this really isn’t as good as the shots ESPN had him with the red smeared around his mouth!

I also really like this picture of Janoris Jenkins and Joe Haden.  A special shout out to the awesome freshman Jenkins, who kept blocking FSU’s passes, and finally made an interception.  THIS GUY IS A FRESHMAN!  I know, the same could be said about Jeff Demps as well.  They are just so darn good.  It was just so beautiful.  I watched Sun Sports replay of the game last night (side note that it is a different broadcast than the ABC) and you know what?  It isn’t that this team is great.  They are, but what makes them deliver is the fact that they are a team.  Look at how everyone congratulates each other with every good move!  They play with their hearts and if you don’t think that accounts for anything, then you are wrong.  I think that puts them in so much sync with one another!  The same could be said about our 2006 and 2007 basketball starters.

So it’s all sitting right there.  A win next weekend will put us in that title game.  I will be nervous this week.  But I can’t wait to see it.

A side note, my usual four-hour-drive took about 6 1/2 hours!  I am not surprised, my first year in Gainesville I learned the same ‘you don’t drive home the Sunday after Thanksgiving’ the hard way.  But I just couldn’t do anything else, I had to work today.  But boy am I glad we left Tallahassee on Saturday night!!!  While getting gas in Ft. Pierce I talked with a fellow gator fan I met at the pump and this poor kid had been on the road from Tally since 10:40am.  By the way, it was 6:30 at that time!  Poor guy!

I will never drive that horrendous drive again.  People, don’t drive that day.  EVER.  I can’t believe I don’t have pneumonia today from the hours of freezing, wet misery.

Gators are just so hardcore.

Go Gators!

NCAA Week 14: Oh What A Mess!!!

The conclusion of the 2008 FBS regular season begins this week and finishes next week.  There are multiple problems with the postseason as of now, and I don’t believe these problems will all be resolved by Saturday, December 6.

The national championship will produce controversy no matter which two teams are picked for the game.  Eight or more teams could conceivable have realistic arguments in favor of their being one of the final two.  The system is set up for failure, especially this season.  Except for 2005, this inept method of picking teams has “gotten it wrong” just about every season since its inception.

The non-BCS bowl situation couldn’t be more messed up today.  Six bowl will more than likely need at-large entries as the conferences which with they have agreements will not provide enough bowl eligible teams.  The poor Independence bowl will have to find two at-large teams unless a couple of miracle upsets occur this week.

PiRate Ratings By Conference